News

FDA approves new brain implant

Country
United States

A new implantable deep brain stimulation device has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with symptoms of both Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, two discrete disorders for which there are no medical cures.

US moves against trans fats

Country
United States

Acting on evidence that trans-unsaturated fatty acids are a risk for heart disease, the Food and Drug Administration has ordered manufacturers of processed foods to reformulate their products to remove these ingredients, also known as trans fats.

Kiadis disclosed details of its IPO in Amsterdam and Brussels

Country
Netherlands

Kiadis Pharma NV said that its previously announced initial public offering on the Amsterdam and Brussels Euronext exchanges will consist of 2,272,727 shares to be priced at between €11 and €13.75 per share with a final price to be announced on 1 July..

Cosmo Pharma plans to list a subsidiary

Country
Luxembourg

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SA, a specialty developer of gastro-intestinal products and a generic drug manufacturer, has announced plans to float a subsidiary on the Swiss Stock Exchange where it has a listing of its own. Terms of the offering are to be disclosed later.

Nordic oncology company created

Country
Norway

Targovax AS of Norway and Oncos Therapeutics Oy of Finland have agreed to an all-share merger to create a Nordic oncology company with a combined portfolio of early-stage cancer vaccines poised to take advantage of new opportunities in immuno-oncology.

First post-IPO results for Abzena

Country
United Kingdom

Bolstered by an initial public offering of its shares in 2014, the year-old Abzena Group Plc ended its first financial year with a cash balance of £15.8 million, up from £2.8 million a year earlier. Revenue growth was supported by the company’s immunology services.

Sobi ends takeover discussions

Country
Sweden

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi), a developer of drugs for rare diseases, has terminated discussions with an undisclosed party in relation to a possible takeover proposal for the company. Sobi announced the end of discussions on 8 June.

Allergy Therapeutics expands footprint in Spain

Country
United Kingdom

Allergy Therapeutics Plc, a UK-based specialty pharmaceutical company, has paid €3.8 million in cash for Alerpharma SA of Spain in order to increase its presence on the Spanish market for allergy therapies where it already has a subsidiary.

Abivax launches IPO in France

Country
France

Abivax SAS, which is developing a compound that inhibits HIV replication, has announced plans to raise €43.6 million in an initial public offering on the Paris Euronext exchange, a figure that could rise to €57.7 million if an overallotment option is exercised.

Downsizing at Active Biotech after trial

Country
Sweden

Lund, Sweden-based Active Biotech AB is to let go 84% of its workforce following the termination of a Phase 3 clinical programme for a prostate cancer drug that was shown to delay disease progression, but did not extend overall survival. The drug, tasquinimod, was being developed with Ipsen SA.